PLAYER TO WATCH: Kovalev. He's still strong and talented, and could be the perfect fit for a second line that sometimes struggled with scoring a year ago. Plus, considering how much Florida struggles with shootouts, someone like Kovalev could pay immediate dividends.

OUTLOOK: Most of the team that won the Southeast Division title last season is back. The Panthers might have one of the best 1-2 goaltending combos in the league with Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen. If health isn't an issue, the Panthers could go deeper in the playoffs this time around.

PLAYER TO WATCH: C Eric Staal. The team captain and face of the franchise blossomed after Muller took over two months into last season, with 19 goals and 40 assists in the final 57 games. With his younger brother on the team and veteran Semin on his line, Staal should have enough pieces around him to carry the team to the playoffs.

OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes have made the playoffs just once since winning the 2006 Stanley Cup, but the additions of Jordan Staal and Semin should give them enough quality offensive depth to reach the postseason - even in a tough Southeast Division.

Although they're tied for first place, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to earn a point against any of the other four teams in the Southeast Division.

Now a little healthier, the Hurricanes have two chances to end that drought this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Florida Panthers starting Saturday night in Raleigh.

While 21 points would be no better than third place in any other division, that's enough to have Carolina deadlocked with Winnipeg atop the Southeast.

The Hurricanes (10-8-1) have built that point total by going 10-3-1 against non-division teams but would love to fix their 0-5-0 mark versus Southeast opponents. While they've been outscored 21-7 in those five games, they have scored at least three goals in all but two of their other 14.

After getting shut out in Tuesday's visit to division cellar dweller Washington, Carolina bounced back with a 4-1 home victory over Pittsburgh two days later. The top line of Jiri Tlusty, Eric Staal and Alexander Semin combined for three goals and five assists.

"I'm just enjoying my time and building the confidence and playing with two of the best players in the NHL," said Tlusty, who has nine goals in the past 10 games after scoring twice Thursday. "What can you say? It's enjoyable every single day, every single shift out there ... and you just go out there and enjoy it. That's what hockey is about, right?"

Jeff Skinner scored in his return from a concussion, and Carolina also got Tim Gleason, Jamie McBain and Tim Brent back from injuries.

"It was nice getting some healthy bodies back," coach Kirk Muller said. "It gave us a chance to go four lines. It gave us a higher tempo and energy."

With a more complete team, the Hurricanes enter this home-and-home set - which ends Sunday in Florida - looking to avenge a season-opening 5-1 road loss to the Panthers on Jan. 19.

Brian Campbell scored two of Florida's four goals in the first period, and Jonathan Huberdeau, the league's rookie of the month for February, had three points in his NHL debut.

Huberdeau, though, has gone pointless in the last four games and the Panthers (6-9-5) have lost three of them. They've dropped eight of 10 overall, with four defeats coming after regulation.

Campbell scored the tying goal with 1:26 left in the third period Thursday, but the Panthers lost 4-3 to Buffalo in a shootout.

"It's frustrating obviously not getting the two points. We need points," Campbell said. "We go into the biggest weekend of the season. It's Carolina back-to-back, divisional games. We need to come out with hopefully a couple of wins."

Florida have won six of seven over the Hurricanes.

Carolina's Cam Ward was in net for four of those losses and was pulled after the first period in the first meeting this season. However, he's 5-1-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average in his last seven home games against the Panthers.

Jose Theodore is 6-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA in his last seven games in this series, but he's 0-2-2 with a 4.19 GAA in his past five starts.